Agroforestry systems for improved productivity through the efficient use of water

Expanded Title:

In South Africa, the past focus has been on intensive production of individual sectors (agriculture and forestry), as opposed to integrated agroforestry practices to improve farming systems, restore degraded environments and supplement incomes. The aim of this project was to implement on-station agroforestry systems to determine their impact on water and plant production in order to facilitate the adoption of agroforestry locally. One silvopastoral and three alley cropping systems were established on on-station trials at the Ukulinga Research Farm of the University of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their suitability for implementation by rural communities. The results from the alley cropping trials in this study clearly demonstrate that benefits of agroforestry are generally not realized in the first two seasons after establishment. This may be one of the reasons for poor uptake of agroforestry by rural farmers. The agroforestry systems established in this study enabled the development of a hedgerow intercropping model.

Date Published:

01/03/2012

Document Type:

Research Report

Document Subjects:

Agricultural Water - Agro forestry

Document Format:

Report

Document File Type:

pdf

Research Report Type:

Standard

WRC Report No:

1480/1/12

ISBN No:

978-1-4312-0261-4

Authors:

Everson CS; Ghezehei SB; Everson TM; Annandale J

Project No:

K5/1480

Originator:

WRC

Organizations:

Department of Plant Production & Soil Science University of Pretoria; University of KwaZuIu-Natal; CSIR